WWE laying the Smackdown on Palm Springs

WWE Superstar Randy Orton - one of the company's top guys for more than a decade - is among those advertised for an Oct. 3 house show at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Tickets are still available.(Photo: Gallo Images)

The convention center's web site is advertising appearances by WWE Champion AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose, Smackdown Women's Champion Becky Lynch and others. There's no word if John Cena - the company's top guy-turned-mainstream star - will appear, but he's recently appeared at house shows across the country.

It's a rare opportunity for Coachella Valley wrestling fans to watch a live WWE show without driving to Los Angeles or San Diego. The last time WWE was here, we saw guys like Rey Mysterio and CM Punk, who recently made headlines after quickly losing his first UFC match.

Given this is a house show, attendees should expect something different from what they see on television.

Typically, matches last longer since wrestlers aren't limited by commercial breaks. And since cameras aren't rolling, don't be surprised if they break from their usual routines to entertain fans in ways that aren't seen on television.

Wrestling has aired Monday nights on the USA network for years, so some of you may wonder why there's a house show the same evening.

WWE split its roster in July. Some wrestlers were assigned to Monday Night Raw and others went to Smackdown Live, which airs Tuesdays. That means fans need to decide between watching Raw at home or attending the local show.

We suggest the house show, since there's no telling when you'll have another shot at watching WWE wrestling in your own backyard.

The convention center is at 277 N. Avenida Caballeros. Tickets are available at www.NXTTickets.com and by calling (877) 840-0457.

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